A SILENT EPIDEMIC THAT DEMANDS OUR URGENT ATTENTION
Sexual violence is a pervasive issue that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. In Nigeria, the reality is stark and alarming. UNICEF reported in 2015 that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, now we believe this figure might have increased. According to a survey by Positive Action for Treatment Access, over 31.4 percent of girls there said that their first sexual encounter had been rape or forced sex of some kind. THE GRIM STATISTICS REVEALS DEEPER TRUTH 90% of abusers are known to the child and family and 84% of girls and 61% of boys don't know where to seek help. The incidence means that 15.8 million Nigerian children will be sexually abused before adulthood and 11 million of them will deal with the secrecy, trauma and long-term effects alone, without intervention. This staggering reality necessitates urgent systemic changes and a united front from society. It entails a range of acts, including unwa...